Look For More Delays, Traffic Detours Today In Area Of The Rail Accident

March 18, 1993|By A.D. BURCH, Staff Writer

The fiery accident between an Amtrak train and a gasoline tanker along Cypress Creek Road on Wednesday, which tangled traffic for hours, will cause more problems for travelers today.

Cypress Creek Road will remain closed from Andrews Avenue to west of the CSX railroad tracks while the cleanup continues and the National Transportation Safety Board conducts its investigation.

The northbound Interstate 95 ramp to westbound Cypress Creek Road is closed. I-95 traffic can exit to go east on Cypress Creek only. And motorists traveling east on Cypress Creek Road cannot get on I-95.

Tri-Rail and Amtrak service also will be delayed.

``We are suggesting that if people have another way to get to work that they use it,`` said Gloria Jacaruso, a spokeswoman for Tri-Rail. ``There will be very substantial delays.``

Passengers on both Tri-Rail and Amtrak will be taken by train to pickup points north and south of the accident site. From there, passengers will be bused around the site of the wreck and then taken to their destinations by train.

The pickup points had not been determined on Wednesday night because officials were not certain when the wrecked train would be removed from the tracks.

Transportation officials are advising motorists traveling north and south in the area to use Powerline Road. Motorists traveling east and west near the wreck site are urged to take Atlantic Boulevard and Commercial Boulevard.

``People should avoid the area,`` said Barbara Sarff of Florida`s Department of Transportation. ``We don`t know how quickly it will be under control or cleaned up.``

South Florida commuters had a hard time making their way home on Wednesday -- by car, bus or train. Streets were clogged and Tri-Rail service was disrupted, with passengers being shuttled by bus between the Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach stations. Train riders as far as West Palm Beach were forced to wait at least an hour.

Drivers inched along I-95 in both directions as thick, billowing smoke from the explosion blanketed the highway. Transportation officials had not determined how long the backup was late Wednesday.

Air traffic into and out of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport was kept out of a 1 1/2-mile radius.

The accident will cause more problems for anyone trying to use a train today. Passengers will have to be bused around the accident site while the cleanup continues. Changes in Tri-Rail`s regular service:

-- TRI-RAIL will operate 29 of its 30 weekday trains. Train 611, which leaves West Palm Beach at 10:02 a.m., will be canceled.

-- THERE will be no train or shuttle bus service at the Cypress Creek station.

-- PASSENGERS traveling north from the Miami Airport station will leave Tri- Rail at the Fort Lauderdale Tri-Rail Station. From there, buses will take the passengers to the Pompano Beach station to continue their trip.

-- PASSENGERS southbound from the West Palm Beach station will leave Tri- Rail at the Pompano Beach station and transfer to buses that will take them to Tri-Rail`s Fort Lauderdale Station to continue their trip.

-- TRAVELERS needing further information should call Amtrak at 1-800-523-9101 or Tri-Rail at 1-800-TRI-RAIL.